Surging popularity of Chinese novels at Bangkok International Book Fair

Discover the surge of Chinese novels at Bangkok Book Fair. Explore cultural insights and international collaborations with Chinese publishing houses.

on Apr 09, 2024

Surging popularity of Chinese novels at Bangkok International Book Fair | Frontlist

Visitors to the Bangkok Book Fair flock to nearly 700 Chinese novels displayed by six Chinese publishing firms in an effort to improve knowledge of China among international publishers and Thai readers.

Bangkok, April 9 (Xinhua) Akkrapol Mungnirandr, 52, grabbed a book about Chinese culture and was excited to study the characters he recognized at a Chinese book exhibition booth at the Bangkok International Book Fair 2024.

"I am interested in the Chinese language and have acquired a few Chinese terms. "I'd like to learn more about the country's wonderful culture through reading," Akkrapol stated.

The Bangkok resident was among the thousands of readers who came to buy more than 700 Chinese novels at the book expo, which brought together six Chinese publishing houses in an effort to provide international publishers and Thai readers with a better understanding of China.

China Renmin University Press, one of China's six publishing houses, highlighted its series on Chinese modernization research and books about China's present society, politics, and economy, which quickly drew the attention of many publishers and readers.

The press also had copyright trade negotiations with around 20 publishers from Thailand, Vietnam, India, and other countries, laying the groundwork for future copyright collaboration.

Southeast Asian countries are eager to learn from China's development experience in the face of a complex international and regional environment, according to Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, director of the Belt and Road Initiative's Thailand-China Research Center, who has worked with several Chinese publishers to translate numerous Chinese books.

The Thai academic went on to say that he would like to see more Chinese works translated and published in Thailand, allowing Thai readers to gain a more thorough grasp of Chinese modernization.

Charassri Jiraphasthe participated in the 12-day book expo, which concluded on Monday, for the third time with the Chinese publishing delegation.

"The Chinese publishing delegation only had one booth in the first year of participation," remembered Charassri, a Thai professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University. "But there are three booths this year!" She attributed this expansion to the Thai people's eagerness to learn Chinese.

The Thai professor also brought her book, which described the changes in Chinese people's lives during the previous 20 years. She wants to construct a bridge so that Thais can better understand modern China.

Higher Education Press, another Chinese publishing business, promoted vocational education textbooks at the book exhibition, including those for the Luban Workshop and those with "Chinese plus vocational skills."

"We hope these textbooks can promote the cultivation of skilled talents in Belt and Road Initiative partner countries, as well as contribute to local social and economic development," said Long Jie, the press's deputy editor-in-chief.